Frameless window screen



-Jan. 8, 1935. L. L BREDIN FRAME-LESS WINDOW scam:

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 19, 1933 2%, ATTORNEY.

Jan. 8, 1935.

L. 1.. IBREDIN 1,987,140

. FRAMELESS wmnow SCREEN Filed Jan. 19, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WW rINVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 8, 1935 I UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE FBAMELESS WINDOWSCREEN Lewis L. Bredin, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Chamberlin MetalWeather Strip Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of MichiganApplication January 19, 1933, Serial No. 652,501

12 Claims. (Cl. 156-14) This invention relates to improvements in win-Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3. clow screens and moreparticularly to a frameless Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 ofFig. 3. screen construction and its method of mounting Fig. 6 is anenlarged elevation of a portion of and association with a window frameor opening. the upper cross frame before assembly with the 5 In thecommon window screens in use a frame screen and screen supporting bar. 5

is provided that fits in the window opening or Fig. 7 is a perspectiveview of a portion of the against the frame providing the openings and inscreen supporting bar insertable in the upper colder sections of thecountry is required to be cross frame. taken down in the fall anderected in the spring. Fig. 8 is a supporting member or holder for theSuch framed screens require considerable storage bar of Fig. 7. 10 spaceand are awkward to handle, and one of the Fig. 9 is an elevation of aportion of the lower objects of this invention is to provide a screencross member and the latch means for securing having a top and a bottomcross frame member the sameinplace. only enabling the same to berolledup when re- Fig. 10 is a section taken on line 1010 of Fig. 9.

is moved from the window for storage and thus are Fig. 11 is a crosssection of a window frame on more easily handled and requireconsiderably less line .11-11 of Fig. 10 Sh e lower OI'OSS storage spacethan the usual type of screen. frame in section.

With my improved screen a further feature and Fig. 12 is a perspectiveview of a convenient object of the invention is involved in theprovision form of a strike and retainer member for the latch of an uppercross bar so positioned relative to the on the lower cross member. 20window frame as to enable it to be erected from Fig. 13 is a sideelevation of a convenient means the interior of the building and soconstructed for securing the latch member of the top cross that theunframed screen edges lie in contact with frame in position. the outerface of the window frame or stop mem- Fig. 14 is a front elevationthereof.

ber provided therefor. The screen, as hereinafter described, may be 2 Afeature of the invention is provided by an made for attachment to windowframes or any upper cross bar which is dual in character having framedopening and for convenience is here shown a screen supporting bar and acasing in which in association with the usual wooden window the bar isinsertable and is forced toward the frame and-sliding sash. In such typeof conupper part of the casing by a spring means supstruction, referringmore particularly in Figs. 2 0

' ported in the lower part of the casing. By such and 11, a lower sash 1is shown and in Fig. 2 is arrangement, when the screen is erected andthe shown a similar upper sash both of which are slidlower cross barfastened in place, a tension is able in sash grooves formed in the frame3 by placed on the screen which is attached at the means of theintervening stop 4, the inner stop or upper end to the bar and thusholds the screen finish member 5 and the outer blind stop 6 on 35 taut.which the screen is to be mounted and on the It is likewise a featureand object of the inouter face of which a finish strip 7 may beprovention to provide a screen construction that is vided, which stripis so associated with the stop 6 comparatively simple and inexpensive tomanuas to provide a vertical flange against which the 40 feature; thatpermits a very ready assembly of vertical edges of the screen 8may lie.40 the parts; and further providesfor an adjustment In the preferredconstruction the top cross in the length of the screen. member, shown inFig. 3, consists of an outer cas- These and other objects and novelfeatures of ing 9 having an opening 10 in its inner face and theinvention are hereinafter more fully described is preferably ofrectangular form having an inand claimed, and the preferred form ofconstructurned bottom wall 11 on which wall-is supported 45 tion of ascreen embodying my invention is shown two or more leaf springs 12, onlyone of which is in the accompanying drawings in whichhere shown, but itis to be understood that there r Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a windowframe may be several such springs along the length of showing myimproved screen erected therein. the channel formed in the member 9.Within Fig. 2 is a cross section on an enlarged scale the hollowinterior of the casing is mounted the 50 taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Iscreen bar 13 and its holder 14, an end of each of Fig. 3 is an enlargeddetail elevation of a porwhich is shown respectively in Figs. '1 and 8and tion of the upper cross frame and screen showing a cross section ofwhich is shown in Fig. 5.

a convenient means for fastening the same in The bar 13 has a short endportion 15 of reduced position in a window frame. thickness providingshoulders 16 on opposite sides 55 thereof and this portion fits withinthe slot 17 of the holder which is formed by an upwardly bent lug itbeing understood that there is a lug provided at each end of the holder14 which is approximately of the same length as the casing 9 and theholder 14 has a depending flange or skirt 18 the forward side whichprojects through the opening 16 of the casing 9 and the'bottom edge 19which is folded upon itself and slightly outturned providing a bar likeelement against which the body of the screenB engages, and pro vides atight contact between the screen body 8 and the flange 18 to preventingress of insects through the casing 9 and thence into a room throughthe opening 10 of the casing. The holder 14 at its inner edge has adownturned flange 20. It will be understood from Fig. 5 that the upperend of the screen 8 may be wrapped about the screen bar 13 with severalturns and the bar then inserted in the holder 14 and the assembled barand holder then inserted longitudinally in the end of the casing 9inwhich it is slidable and with the spring elements 12 lying between theflanges 18 and 20 of the holder. The springs 12 tend to force the holder14 and screen bar 13 toward the upper part of the casing 9. It will benoted that the edge 19 of the flange 18 on the holder in contact withthe downturned edge 11a at the bottom of the casing 9 and thus issupported thereby when the screen 8 is stretched. I

Due to the bar 13 having several turns of the body of the screen wrappedthereabout, the length of the exposed portion of the screen may bevaried within the limits determined by the length of the several turnsof the screen. Thus the screen is adjustable in length for variouslengths of window openings. This variation in length is pro vided toaccommodate comparatively small variations in length of the window framedue to vari- .ation in manufacture or which are made to exact dimensionsand yet in any of its adjusted lengths.

the screen is maintained tautby the spring elements 12 as will behereinafter more fully de scribed. After the screen bar 13 and itsholder havebeen inserted in the casing 9 a sheet metal u clip 21 ispreferably positioned over each open end of the casing 9 to prevent theend of the inserted bar from engaging directly against the side face ofthe window frame.

The upper cross bar which includes the casing 9 and the screen bar 13and its holder 14 is provided with a pair of retaining members orlatches one at each opposite end thereof and indicated generally at 22.The latch member consists of a sheet metal housing 23 secured to theinner face of the casing 9 and the end walls of. the housing areapertured to receive a bolt 24 which is formed with a shoulder providedby a washer 25 against which one end of a compression spring 26 engagesforcing the bolt to the position shown in Fig. 4.

The bolt at the one end is provided with an outturned end 27 by which itmay be retracted from the position shown in Fig. 4.

The lower cross frame of the screen member, indicated generally at 28 inFig. 9, is likewise provided with a latch element 29 similar in allrespects to the latch member 22 on the upper cross frame. It is to benoted that the forward end 30 of tin bolt 24 shown in Fig. 4, when inits extended position, does not extend to the end of the casing 9. Thebolt at each end of the casing 9 is positioned in the same relationshipand when the casing is positioned, as indicated in Fig. 2, it engagesthe outer face of the blind stop 6 in which position the latch member 22extends within the window opening as the latch member is also spacedfrom the upper edge of the casing 9. For cooperation with the bolt 24 Iprovide in the two opposite upper corners of the window frame a lug 31shown in side and face elevation respectively in Figs. 13 and 14. Thelug has an elongated slot 32 into which the terminal end 30 of the bolt24 engages and by means of which the upper cross member is held inposition against the face of the stop 6. a

The lower cross bar 28 is shown in elevation and in section in Figs. 9.10 and 11 wherein it will be seen that it is formed of sheet metal Lshaped in cross section having a base 33 return-bent upon itself in amanner to securely hold a felt pad 34 on its lower face which, when thescreen is in position in the frame, engaged the window sill and preventsmarring of the surface thereof by contact of the metal portions with thesill.

As shown in Fig. this base portion 33 has a slot 34, it being understoodthat there is a slot at each end. thereof. At the bottom end of theblind stop an the window sill is provided a strike and retainer member35 which has a vertical portion 36 lying in engagement with the face ofthe memher 6 and is provided with a struck out portion or lug 37 whichlies at an angle to the vertical and forms a strike for the end of thebolt 38 of the latch 29 on the lower cross frame. The bolt is retractedby engaging the strike plate and then,

due to its being springpressed, is forced into the aperture 39 providedby the striking out of the lug 37. The retainer 35 also has a portion 40at the lower end thereof lying at a right angle to the base 36 of themember 35 which engages in the slot 34 formed in the base portion 33 ofthe lower cross frame 28. Thus when the lower cross frame is in itslowermost position it is held from lateral displacement at the bottom bythese portions 40' of the members 35 and it also held from movementvertically by thestrike plate or lug 37 beneath which the bolt 38 of-thecross member 28 engages.

The latch members 22 of the top cross frame and the latch members 29 ofthe lower cross frame are on the inside of the screen when erected inthe window frame and, as previously stated, the top cross frame, asshown in Fig. 2. engages the outer face of the member 6 and thus theouter edge of the screen body lies in engagement with this outer face ofthe member 6 along the vertical sides thereof and when the lower crossmember 28 is positioned in place the screen is held taut due to theaction of the springs 12 which are placed under tension by bringing thelower cross frame to place in engagement with the sill.

It is to be understood, of course, that prior to erection the screen bar13 has been either wrapped or unwrapped to provide proper length of theexposed screen body so that the screen body is placed under tension bypositioning the lower cross bar in its locked position on the sill asabove described.

As indicated in Fig. 11, the lower cross frame 28 is formed of sheetmetal having the base 33 and the vertical portion 41 and to the outerface of this portion 41 is secured a flat strip 42 which is of a lengthequal to the width of the screen body 8 while the member 41 is shorteras will be understood from Fig. 9. This permits the strip 42 to engageover the outer face of the member 6 as shown in Fig. 11 and therebyholds the screen 8 flat against the said outer face of the stop 6 whichis also held against the said stop 6 by the upper cross frame aspreviously stated.

To secure the lower edge of the screen body 8 to the lower cross framethe member 41 is formed at its upper edge with a. U shaped portion 43,the open side of which is opposite the upper edge of the member 42. Thelower edge of the screen is placed in this U shaped member 43 and a rod44 forced thereinto and then the members 42 and 41 are riveted togetherby the rivets securing the handles 45 to said lower cross frame. Thusthe lower edge of the screen is prevented from removal from the lowercross frame 28. The handles are provided to permit the person erectingthe screen to place a downward pressure on the cross frame 28 to bringthe latch bolt 38 beneath the strike plates 37 and place the springmembers 12 under tension. This holds the screen body under tension tothereby hold the screen body taut and in close engagement with the outerface of the member 6.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that my improvedscreen is of comparatively simple construction, the upper and lowercross bars being formed of sheet metal which is easily shaped, and ascreenis provided that is adjustable in length to accommodate variationin the length of the window opening and that in all positions ofadjustment the screen may be made taut by the securing of the lowercross frame in place to thereby place the spring members under tension,and that the various objects of the invention are attained by thecommotion described.

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode ofoperation, what I claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is- 1. A screen for mounting upon the outer face of awindow frame comprising a screen body, upper and lower cross frames, thescreen body being fixedly attached to the lower cross frame, said uppercross frame having a bar insertable longitudinally therein to which theupper edge of the screen is secured and about which the screen may bewrapped to provide a greater or less length of exposed screen body,spring means for forcing the bar upwardly to place a tension on thescreen body when the lower cross frame is secured in place, and meansoperable from the interior of the window opening for detachably securingboth the upper and the lower cross frames in position.

2. A screen for mounting upon'the exterior face of a window framecomprising a screen body having upper and lower cross frames, the screenhav ing one end fixedly attached to one of the frames and a barremovably supported in the other cross frame to which the other end ofthe screen is secured, said bar having several turns of the screen bodythereabout for adjustment of the length of the exposed screen body bywrapping or unwrapping one or more turns of the screen thereabout,yieldable means in said other cross frame engaging the bar and placingthe screen body under tension when secured in' place, latch members uponthe interior face of each of the cross frames, and means on eachvertical side face of the window frame at both the upper and the lowerends thereof engaged by the respective latch members,

this arrangement providing a screen adapted to be erected from theinterior of the window with the screen lying on the exterior face of thewindow frame.

3. A screen for securing to a window frame having a blind stop, saidscreen comprising a. screen body having upper and lower cross framesonly, a latch member adjacent each end of each cross frame, means on theinner side face of the blind stop at the top and at the bottom todetachably receive the said latch elements of the respective cross frameand thereby secure the screen in place, the arrangement of the latchelements positioning the opposite vertical edges of the screen body in.engagement with the outer face of the blind stop, a removable element inone of the cross frames to which an end of the screen is attached andabout which the screen body is wrapped for adjustment of the length ofwhereby the same may be shortened or lengthened, a holder for the saidmeans, said holder and means being removable as a unit longitudinally ofthe said body for adjustment of the screen length, spring means in thesaid hollow cross frame for supporting the holder and tending to drawthe screen intothe casing, means for securing the said cross frame tothe upper part of a window frame with the screen body on the exteriorface thereof, and means at the bottom end of the screen for securing thesame to the window sill, the adjusted length of the exposed screen bodybeing less than the length of the window opening whereby said body isplaced under tension by the spring means through fastening the bottomend of the screen to the window 5. A screen for a window frame,comprising a screen body, a cross frame of hollow form constituting acasing having an opening in its wall to receive one end of the bodyportion of the screen, means within the casing to which the screen isattached, said means being adapted to adjust the exposed portion of thescreen body whereby the frame may be shortened or lengthened, a holderfor the said means, spring means in the said hollow cross frame forsupporting the holder and tending to draw the screen into the casing,means forsecuring the said cross frame to the upper part'of a windowframe with the screen body on the exterior face thereof, and means atthe bottom end of the screen for securing the same to the window sill,the adjusted length of the exposed screen body being less than thelength of the window opening whereby said body is placed where tensionbythe spring means through fastening the bottom end of the screen to thewindow sill.

6. In a window screen, a cross member comprising a rectangular casinghaving an opening in one side face, a bar, and a holder for said barslidable as a unit longitudinally into the casing, a screen bodyattached to the bar and extending through the opening of the casing,

spring means tending to move the holder and bar to which an end of thescreen is attached, a spring means tending todraw the screen body intothe casing, means for securing the said cross frame in position in awindow opening with the screen body on the exterior face of the windowframe, and means for securing the'other end of the screen to theopposite end of the casing, the

, in the casing engaging the said holder tending to move the same in aplane parallel with the plane of the exposed portion of the screen,means on the said cross frame for securing the same in awindow frame,and means on the other end I of the screen for attaching the same to thewindow Ito frame and thereby tending to move the holder against thetension of the springs to thereby hold the screen body taut. 1

9. In a window screen, a screen body, an upper and a lowercross frametherefor, the upper cross frame comprising a hollow casing having anopening in the inner face thereof through which the screen body extends,means movable within the casing parallel with the body of the screen towhich the said screen is attached, a latch means for securing the saidface against the outer face of a window frame whereby opposite edges ofthe exposed screen body lie in contact with said face of the windowframe, spring means in the said hollow casing tending to draw the bodyof the screen thereinto, a cross bar at the opposite end,

of the screen body consisting of an L shaped sheet metal memberproviding a base for engaging the sill and a vertical flat portion towhich the screen end is attached, a releasable latch element at each endthereof, a plate at the bottom of the opposite vertical sides of thewindow frame forming a strike member for the latch elements,

said plates also having a portion extending outwardly from the face ofthe window frame, and slots provided in the base of the bottom crossframe through which the said last named portions of the plates extendwhen the cross frame has been brought into latching position.

10. A screen for a window frame comprising a screen body, a cross frameat the upper end thereof, a cross frame at the lower end thereof, a barcarried by said upper cross frame to which an end of the screen isattached and on which the screen may be rolled or unrolled throughmanual rotation of the bar to adjust the length'of the ,the latchelement detachably securing the cross bar in contact with the sill andmaintaining the screen under tension by the said springs;

11. In a screen for mounting on the exterior face of a window frame, anupper and a lower I cross frame attached to the screen body, means fordetachably securing the respective cross framesto the upper and lowerportions of" the window frame, a member slidably supporting the uppercross frame, a tensloning means between said member and the upper crossframe caused to be placed under tension by securing the lower crossframe in position whereby the screen member is stretched taut to holdthe otherwise unsupported edges thereof in engagement with the outerface of the window frame.

12. A screen for mounting uponthe exterior face of a window framecomprising a screen body, a cross frame for each of its opposite ends,one of the cross frames containing a predeterminable portion of thescreen rolled thereon and providing a predeterminable exposed length ofscreen body, a support for the said cross frame containing the rolled upportion of the screen slidably supporting the same for movement intheplane of the exposed length of the screen body and holding the same fromrotation to prevent unrolling of the screen thereon by pulling ontheother cross frame, spring means'resisting sliding movement of the crossframe containing the said rolled up portion of the screen body whereby,upon movement of the other cross frame in a direction away from theframe containing the rolled portion, the exposed screen body is heldtaut by' said spring means with its side edges in engagement with therespective portions of the window frame.

LEWIS L. BREDIN.

